"Lazima tufahamu ubora wa ustaarabu wetu, mfumo uliohakikisha ustawi, heshima kwa haki za binadamu na - tofauti na nchi za Kiislamu - heshima kwa haki za kidini na kisiasa, mfumo ambao thamani yake ni kuelewa utofauti na uvumilivu..." -- Silvio Berlusconi. Mwitikio wa kuchelewa wa serikali za Magharibi katika kuahidi msaada kwa waathiriwa wa janga la tsunami ulikosolewa na Wamagharibi na waathiriwa wenyewe.

"We must be aware of the superiority of our civilisation, a system that has guaranteed well-being, respect for human rights and - in contrast with Islamic countries - respect for religious and political rights, a system that has as its value understanding of diversity and tolerance...” -- Silvio Berlusconi he belated response from western governments in pledging aid to the victims of the tsunami disaster was frowned upon by westerners and victims alike.

Ahadi ya awali ya Marekani ya dola milioni 35 ilielezwa na seneta mmoja wa Marekani kuwa sawa na kiasi ambacho jeshi la Marekani lilikuwa likitumia nchini Iraq kabla ya kifungua kinywa. Hatimaye, msaada huo uliongezwa hadi dola milioni 350, lakini haukufanya kitu kikubwa cha kuzuia wimbi linalokua la ukosoaji uliolenga utawala wa Bush.

America's initial pledge of $35 million was described by a US senator as equivalent to what the American military consumed in Iraq before breakfast. Eventually, the aid was increased to $350 million, but did little to stem the growing tide of criticism directed at the Bush administration.

Nchini Uingereza pia, serikali ililaumiwa kwa kuahidi kiasi kidogo sana kwa mfuko wa msaada. Ikihisi aibu, serikali ilifanya haraka kulingana na mchango wa umma wa Uingereza wa pauni milioni 90.

In Britain too, the government was censured for pledging a meagre amount to the relief fund. Sensing humiliation the government hastened to match the British public's donation of £90 million.

Hizi ndizo serikali zile zile ambazo hazichoki kuhubiri usawa na haki za binadamu kwa ulimwengu wote, na kuunda tume za haki za binadamu, lakini zinapopewa fursa ya kukuza maadili haya katika baadhi ya nchi maskini zaidi duniani, ghafla zinaugua kusahau.

These are the very same governments that never tire of preaching equality, human rights to the rest of the world, and setting up human rights commissions, but when given the opportunity to foster these ideals in some of the poorest countries of the world they are suddenly overcome with amnesia.

Kushindwa kwa serikali za Magharibi kukabiliana ipasavyo na janga lililotokea Asia si tendo la Mungu, bali ni matokeo ya itikadi ya kibepari inayofanya ubinafsi wa kimali, badala ya utu wa kibinadamu, kuwa kigezo kinachoamua namna misaada inavyogawanywa. Chukua Marekani kwa mfano:

The failure of Western governments to respond adequately to the catastrophe in Asia is not an act of God, but is the result of the capitalist ideology that makes materialism as opposed to humanitarianism the discerning factor in the disbursement of aid. Take the US for example:

Takriban asilimia 0.1 ya pato la taifa la Marekani (GNP) kila mwaka hutumika kwa misaada ya kigeni. Kiasi cha misaada inayotolewa na nchi nyingine za Magharibi ni kidogo kiasi bora, lakini bado ni mbali sana na kile kinachohitajika ili kuzirejesha maeneo yaliyokumbwa na majanga katika hali fulani ya kawaida.

approximately 0.1 percent of U.S. gross national product annually goes towards foreign aid. The amount of aid offered by other western countries is slightly better, but still way below what is needed to return the disaster stricken areas back to some degree of normality.

Kinyume kabisa na hilo, Magharibi hutumia mabilioni ya fedha kunyonya rasilimali za thamani za dunia, kuunda masoko mapya kwa makampuni yao, na kuyafunga mataifa yanayoendelea kwenye taasisi za kifedha za Magharibi. Mwezi Juni 2004, gharama ya Marekani ya kuendesha vita nchini Iraq na Afghanistan ilifikia dola bilioni 151, na inatarajiwa kuvuka alama ya dola bilioni 200 mwaka 2005. Tofauti hii kubwa ya matumizi kati ya misaada na vita inatokana na itikadi ya kibepari inayoziendesha serikali za Magharibi kuweka mbele ubepari wa mali kuliko kitu kingine chochote.

In marked contrast, the West spends vast amounts on exploiting the world's precious resources, creating new markets for their companies and tying developing countries to western financial institutions. In June 2004, America's cost of waging war in Iraq and Afghanistan reached $151 Billion and is expected to surpass $200 billion mark in 2005. The inequality in spending between aid and war is due to the capitalist ideology that drives western governments to prioritise materialism above anything else.

Kwa maoni yao, utakatifu wa uhai wa binadamu na heshima kwa wanadamu wenzao huja katika nafasi ya pili, mbali sana nyuma ya kutafuta faida. Kwa mfano, tangu kuanza kwa vita nchini Iraq, raia wa Iraq wapatao 100,000 wanakadiriwa kuuawa, kwa mujibu wa jarida la kitabibu la Lancet. Hii ina maana kwamba serikali ya Marekani inailipa Pentagon wastani wa dola milioni 1.5 kwa kila raia wa Iraq aliyeuawa, ili kulinda visima vya mafuta vya Iraq. Kwa upande mwingine, serikali ya Marekani, ikitaka sana kuepuka kuitwa 'bahili', imeahidi dola 35 kwa kila mtu kama msaada wa kibinadamu kwa wahanga waliokimbia makazi yao, wapatao milioni moja.

In their view, the sanctity of human life and respect for fellow human beings comes a poor second to the pursuit of profit. For instance, since the beginning of the war in Iraq, an estimated 100,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed according to the Lancet medical journal. This means that the US government is paying the Pentagon on average $ 1.5 million per Iraqi civilian killed in order to secure the oil fields of Iraq. On the other hand, the US government eager to avoid the label 'stingy' has pledged $ 35 per person in humanitarian assistance to the million or so displaced victims.

Bado kuna baadhi ya watu wanaojigamba kuhusu ukubwa wa ukarimu wa nchi za Magharibi ikilinganishwa na nchi nyingine. Kama ushahidi, wanataja mchango mkubwa uliotolewa na serikali za Magharibi kwa mfuko wa msaada wa tsunami, pamoja na utayari wao wa kuweka kusimamishwa kwa madeni (moratorium) kwa ajili ya kupunguza mzigo wa madeni.

Still there are some who boast about the size of the west's generosity in comparison to other countries. As evidence they cite the huge contribution made to the tsunami relief fund by western governments and their willingness to impose a moratorium on debt relief.

Hata hivyo, wema wa Magharibi una historia mbaya ya kurudi nyuma na kuacha ladha chungu miongoni mwa wale waliopokea msaada. Waathiriwa wa tetemeko la ardhi la Bam nchini Iran bado wanaishi katika umaskini mkubwa kwa sababu dola milioni 17 tu kati ya msaada wa dola bilioni 1 uliotangazwa sana ndizo zilizofikishwa. Waafghanistan, walioharibiwa na mabomu ya muungano, bado hawajapokea asilimia 40 ya dola bilioni 5.4

However, West’ s kindness has a notorious history of rebounding and leaving a bitter taste amongst the receipts of aid. Victims of the Bam earthquake in Iran are still living in abject poverty because only $ 17 million of the muchpublicised $ 1 billion aid was delivered. Afghans, ravaged by coalition bombs are yet to receive 40% of the $ 5.4

...ahadi ya dola bilioni za msaada kwao. Nyuma mwaka 2002, Bush alitangaza kwamba nchi za Afrika zingepokea hadi dola bilioni 5 kwa mwaka kama msaada wa maendeleo. Miaka miwili baadaye, hakuna hata dola moja iliyokuwa imetolewa. Pia kuna ushahidi mkubwa kwamba msaada uliotolewa kwa Maldives uliambatanishwa na sharti kwamba mchakato wa demokrasia uendelee.

billion in aid promised to them. Back in 2002, Bush declared that African countries would receive up to $5 billion a year in development assistancev. Two years on, and not a single dollar has been dispersed. There is also overwhelming evidence that aid given to Maldives was attached with the condition that democratisation process should continue.

Vivyo hivyo, kusimamisha malipo ya madeni kwa muda kisha kuyaendeleza baadaye hakutasaidia sana kupunguza hali ngumu ya kiuchumi ya nchi za eneo hilo. Nchi hizi zimezama kwenye milima ya madeni na zinalazimika kuvumilia hatua kali za IMF ambazo, katika visa vingi, hugeuza ahueni ya kiuchumi kuwa kinyume. Kwa mfano, jumla ya deni la nje la Indonesia ni takriban dola bilioni 150; kusimamisha malipo ya dola bilioni 3.1 za mtaji na dola bilioni 1.3 za riba, kama baadhi ya nchi za Ulaya zinavyopendekeza, hakutaiondoa Indonesia kwenye umaskini wala hakutasaidia waathirika wa tsunami.

Similarly, freezing debt repayments only to be resumed at a later date will do little to alleviate the economic plight of the countries in the region. These countries are saddled with mountains of debt and are forced to endure tough IMF measures which in most cases reverse the economic recovery. For instance, Indonesia's overall external debt is about $ 150 billion; suspending the payment of $ 3.1bn in principal and $ 1.3bn billion in interest payments as suggested by some European countries will not lift Indonesia out of poverty or help the tsunami victims.

Ikiwa nchi za Magharibi zina nia ya kweli ya kuisaidia Indonesia na nchi nyingine, basi zinapaswa kufuta kabisa deni hilo na kuondoa masharti ya IMF yaliyowekwa kwenye uchumi wake. Hili litaiwezesha Indonesia kujitegemea kiuchumi na kutotegemea sana misaada ya nje. Mkakati huu hautasaidia tu watu wa Indonesia kusimama kwa miguu yao wenyewe, bali pia utawasaidia kujiandaa vizuri zaidi kwa tsunami zijazo. Lakini serikali za Magharibi kamwe hazitavumilia usawa wa kiuchumi kati yao na ulimwengu unaoendelea, kwa kuwa unaumiza faida za makampuni na kulegeza mshiko wao juu ya rasilimali zenye thamani.

If the West is serious about assisting Indonesia and other countries, then it should retire the debt altogether and cancel the IMF conditions imposed on its economy. This will enable Indonesia to become economically self-sufficient and less reliant on external aid. This strategy will not only help the Indonesia people stand on their feet, but also help them prepare effectively for future tsunamis. But western governments will never tolerate economic parity between themselves and the developing world, as it hurts cooperate profits and loosens their grip on valuable resources.

Ubepari na msako wa kudumu wa rasilimali zimewaruhusu serikali za Magharibi kupoteza fursa nyingine ya kushinda mioyo na akili za watu wa Kiislamu wanaoteseka kutokana na vita vya Marekani dhidi ya ugaidi.

Materialism and the constant quest for resources have allowed western governments to squander another opportunity to win the hearts and minds of the Muslim people reeling from America's war on terrorism.

Lakini ikiwa kushikamana kwa Magharibi na ubepari kumeifanya isiwe na huruma na kuwa na kiburi dhidi ya uhai wa binadamu, basi jambo hilo hilo linaweza kusemwa kuhusu watawala wa ulimwengu wa Kiislamu. Badala ya kutumia fursa ya janga lililotokea Asia kuwasaidia ndugu zao Waislamu na kuwashinda mioyo na akili za waathirika wasio Waislamu, kipaumbele chao cha kwanza ni kulinda maslahi ya kiuchumi ya mamlaka za Magharibi, kisha viti vyao vya enzi wenyewe.

But if the west's adherence to capitalism has made it devoid of compassion and insolent of human life then thesame can be said for the rulers of the Muslim world. Instead of taking advantage of the catastrophe in Asia to help their fellow Muslims and win the hearts and minds of the non- Muslim victims, their first priority is to protect the economic interests of western powers followed by their own thrones.

Chukua Saudi Arabia. Baada ya matukio ya Septemba 11, ilizindua kampeni ya vyombo vya habari ya mamilioni ya dola nchini Marekani ili kuboresha taswira ya umma ya familia ya kifalme. Ikilinganishwa na hilo, mwitikio wake kwa janga la tsunami umebaki wa kiwango cha chini, na unaonyesha jinsi walivyozidi kupenda ubepari.

Take Saudi-Arabia. After the events of September 11, it launched a multi-million dollar media campaign in the US to improve the public image of the royal family. In comparison, its response to tsunami crisis remains low-key and underscores how enamoured they have become with capitalism.

Kile ulimwengu unachohitaji leo ni itikadi na taifa ambalo halijishughulishi milele na kulinda rasilimali na kulinda masoko yake pale linapokabiliwa na watu waliokumbwa sana na maafa ya kimaumbile. Bali liweze kuwakabili waathirika wa majanga hayo kwa huruma na heshima kwa uhai wa binadamu.

What the world needs today is an ideology and a state that is not forever preoccupied with securing resources and protecting its markets when faced with people deeply distressed by natural disasters. But is able to face up to victims of such catastrophes with compassion and respect for human life.

Ni Khalifa pekee ndiye anayeweza kushinda mioyo na akili za Waislamu na wasio Waislamu waliopatwa na maafa. Wakati maadui wakubwa wa Uislamu, Quraysh, walipopigwa na njaa, hawakuwa Warumi wala Waajemi waliokimbilia kuwasaidia, bali ni dola changa ya Kiislamu mjini Madina chini ya uongozi wa Mtume wa Allah ﷺ ndiyo iliyotoa msaada na kushinda mioyo yao. Mwaka 650, wakati wa Ukhalifa wa Umar (RA), Madina iliharibiwa na njaa, na Waislamu wa Misri ndio waliotuma msaada ambao haujawahi kuonekana hapo kabla. Mbali na kutuma msaada kwa nchi kavu, mfereji wa urefu wa maili sitini na tisa ulichimbwa kuunganisha Mto Nile na Bahari Nyekundu, ili meli zilizobeba kiasi kikubwa cha chakula ziweze kufika Jeddah, bandari ya Madina. Mradi mzima ulikamilika ndani ya miezi sita, na uhaba wa chakula Madina ukatatuliwa kabisa.

Only the Caliphate can win the hearts and minds of both Muslims and non-Muslims who have been afflicted with calamity. When the sworn enemies of Islam, the Quraiysh were stricken with famine, it was not the Romans or the Persians that rushed to their rescue, but the infant Islamic state in Madina under the leadership of the Messenger of Allah (SAW) that provided relief and won their hearts. In 650, during the reign of the Caliphate of Umar (RA), Madina was devastated by famine and it was the Muslims of Egypt that sent forth aid the likes of which was not seen before. In addition to sending aid over land, a sixty-nine mile canal was dug to connect the River Nile to the Red Sea, so that ships laden with vast quantities of food could reach Jeddah the port for Madina. The whole project was completed in six months and Medina's food shortages were permanently solved.

Januari 15, 2005

Jan 15, 2005